Automatic signal light



Oct. 13, 1931. H. e. MOSHER AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Dec. 16 1929 INVENTOR ,c' llrvey Nos/her BY Wm W ATTORNEYS Patented 0a. '13, 1931 HARVEY G. 'MOSHER, OI? DETROIT, MICHIGAN AUTOMATIC SIGNAL LIGHT Application filed December 16, 1929. Serial No. 414,606.

indicate the duration of each signal before a change will be effected. This is advantageous not only for the motorist who is approaching a signal light, but also for the pedestrians who are crossing the road. It is a further object of the invention to obtain this result with a simple construction as hereinafter set forth.-

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved signal light,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section partly in elevation;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a development in a single plane of the cylinder surface showing the relative arrangement of the translucent and opaque segments thereof.

As illustrated, A is an outer casing preferably of rectangular form and which is provided on its four sides with window openings B through which the signal light is displayed. These openings are arranged at the upper end of the casing A and each is provided with a'vertical elongated narrow slot C extending downward therefrom to near the lower end of the casing.

Rotatively mounted within the casing A is a cylinder D which has translucent seg- -ments of the different signal colors such as green and red and also opaque segments. These segments are arranged as shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 in which E, E, E and E are each arcs of ninety degree angles and alternately of contrasting colors. For instance, the segments 'E- E may be green in color and the segments E E red. These segments are of a vertical height corresponding to the vertical height of the window opening B, but below these openings the coloredtranslucent portionof each segment is continued downward to correspond to the length of the slot C. These downwardly extending portions are not, however, the full width of the ninety degree arcs but are cut oil by opaque segments F. I The latter are of wedge form being narrow at their upper ends and having an oblique side F extending down to the lower end which is substantially the full ninety degree are.

With the arrangement as scribed it is evident that if the signal light is placed within the cylinder D the translucent segments E, E, E, E will be displayed through the windows B on the several sides of the housing, green color being displayed on two opposite sides and red on the opposite sides which are at right angles thereto, At the same time each of these colors W111 be displayed through the adjacent slot C throughout its entire length. If now a rotarymovement is imparted to the cylinder in a dlrection to cause the oblique edges 1 of the opaque segments F to move past the slots C. This will cause a gradual shortening of the light column displayed through said slots, and this will indicate to the motorist or pedestrian the length of time before a change in signal.

The mechanism for rotating the cylinder D may be of any suitable construction which imparts a timed rotational movement thereto. As illustrated, I have employed'a reciprocating electro-magnetic motor comprising the electro-magnet G, a ratchet lever H carrying the armature I for said magnet and a pawl J for engaging a ratchet wheel K. This ratchet wheel is mounted on a shaft L which also supports the .drum D and the arrangement is such that the drum will be rotated step by step through successive electrical impulses passed through the magnet G To effect a quick shifting from one column to another, I preferably employ a jump connection between the drum D and the shaft L' which operated at the instant when the slot C is. entirely covered by the opaque segment F. This jump connection as shown is formed by a spring M constituting a resilient torque connection between the shaft and drum together with a brake N applied to the periphery of the head 0 at the upper end of sand drum. s"

The head 0 has cut away portions P atthe end of each quarter segment, the arrangement being such that the brake will cause the drum D to lag behind the movement of the ratchet wheel K and shaft L until the cut away porthus far del In operation, the rotation of the motor is timed by the pulsations of the current in the circuit including the electro-magnet G, or it may be timed in any suitable way such as by employing a synchronous motor instead of a reciprocating pulsating motor. Whenever there is a change in the signal the line of light in the slot C is extended to the full length and will gradually shorten'at a uniform rate until it completely disappears as the signal changes. Thus all observers will know approximately the length of time before the change in signals.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an automatic light signal the combination with means for alternately and period ically displaying contrasting colors, of means ;;the period of duration of each contrasting for progressively decreasing the extent of one color throughout its period of duration at a uniform rate to a predetermined limit of area and suddenly for the remainder of the area.

2. In an automaticlight signal, the combination with means for alternately and periodically displaying contrasting colors throughout an extended area, of means for progressively decreasing the extent of area during color at a uniform rate to a predetermined limit and suddenly for the remainder of the area.

3. In an automatic light signal, the com- ;bination with means for alternately and periodically displaying contrasting colors through a large window and a narrow slot extension thereof, of means for progressively decreasing the length of the line of light dis- .played through said slot throughout the pe- "-Gtrasting colors, and opaque portions, an outer riod of duration of each color.

4. An automatic signal light comprising'a source of light, a hollow screen surrounding the same having translucent portions of concasing having a large display window and an elongated slot extending therefrom and timing means for relatively moving said screen and outer casing to alternately and periodiwally display the contrasting colors through said window and to progressively diminish the illuminated length of said slot throughout the duration of the period of each color.

5. An automatic signal comprising a tsource of light, a revolublecylinder screen surrounding said light and having translucent portions of contrasting colors, an opaque portion, an outer casing having a large window and an elongated narrow slot extending therefrom, the direction of extension of said earner and throughout the length of said slot, the illuminated length of said slot being progressively diminished by said opaque portion throughout the duration of the period of each color. I

6. An automatic signal comprising a source of light, a revoluble screen surrounding said light and being provided with translucent portions of contrasting colors, and opaque portions intermediate the contrasting color portions with one edge thereof oblique to the axis of the cylinder, an outer casing having a large display window and an elongated narrow slot extending therefrom parallel to the axis of said cylinder and timed means for rotating said cylinder to periodically change the color displayed through said window and throughout the length of said slot, the length of illuminated portion of said slot being progressively diminished by said opaque portion throughout the duration of each period.

7. An automatic signal comprising a housing having a plurality of sides, each provided with a display window and an elongated slot extending therefrom, a source of light within said housing, a revoluble screen surrounding said light and having translucent portions alternately of contrasting colors and intermediate opaque portions having one edge oblique to the axis of the cylinder and timed means for rotating said cylinder whereby the contrasting colors are alternately displayed through said window and throughout the length of said slot with a progressive diminution in the illuminated length of said slot throughout the duration of each period.

8. An automatic signal comprising a housing having a plurality of sides, each provlded with a display window and an elongated narrow slot extending therefrom, a source of light within said housing, a revoluble screen surrounding said light and having adjacent translucent portions alternately of contrasting colors and registering with said window and slot and intermediate opaque portions having one edge oblique to the axis of the cylinder for registering with said slot only, timed means for rotating said cylinder whereby said contrasting colors are alternately displayed through said window and throughout the length of said slot with a progresslye diminution in the elongated length of said slot by the oblique edge of said opaque portion and means accelerating said cylinder at the complete closing of said slot by said opaque portion to quickly reverse the color displayed through said window.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARVEY G. MOSHER. 

